Clean the detergent compartment: Use simple methods and improve the hygiene of the household appliance!

Have residue buildup in your washing machine drawer that requires you to clean the detergent drawer? Below you will find some common ways to do this!

In order for the household appliance to function properly, it is important to ensure the hygiene of the individual componentsregular cleaningand maintain care. This guarantees you always clean wash cycles and pleasantly smelling clothes. Otherwise, mold or other dirt will form in the individual parts, which could lead to costly repairs. If you notice that your laundry is not being washed properly or that there is washing powder left in the compartment, you should take countermeasures. The cleaning methods and tricks listed below can help you complete this task.

What's the best way to proceed before thoroughly cleaning your detergent drawer?

The low water temperature is gentle on the clothes, but deposits often build up in the drawer during the washing process. This happens especially when pumping, when the detergent and dishwashing liquid compartment fills with water and promotes the formation of mold or bacteria. To ensure that this does not create a habitat for vermin, it is crucial for longevity andCleanliness of the washing machineto care. However, before you do this, you should check the condition of the compartment in more detail and take care of it according to the following tips:

• Since access is easy, you can first open the drawer and see if there is any residue in the gaps. This is especially true if you use washing powder. So the first step is to wipe the surfaces with a cloth to remove the coarse debris.
• First, try pulling out the part and removing it from the washing machine. It is usually advisable to do this after each wash and wipe out any residue that is still easy to clean.
• You should also clean a detergent compartment that is not very dirty by removing it after each wash cycle. Then wash it out and let it dry. This prevents annoying dirt deposits in the long term and saves you future cleaning effort.
• Even if you add detergent directly to the drum, you should leave the door and compartment open afterwards. In this way, you ventilate the interior and prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria and unpleasant odors.
• To carry out a simple cleaning, it is enough to remove the dispenser drawer using the release lever and wash it in the sink with soapy water. It is best to use a soft brush or kitchen sponge to scrub the individual parts and compartments.

However, if your washing machine compartment has become very dirty and moldy, some can use more efficient cleaning techniques to get it clean again.

How to remove stubborn dirt from detergent compartments?

There are a few ways to remove stubborn stains from this component. However, since most of them are made of plastic, they can absorb sediment from various chemical cleaning products over time. This can therefore cause them to lose color and possibly show damage. To prevent this, it is recommended to use home remedies when cleaning the detergent compartment. The most common of these are baking soda and distilled white vinegar. You can use it to make homemade cleaning solutions in spray bottles by mixing equal parts water and vinegar. Then follow the steps described below:

• First, pull the item out of the washing machine and place it in the kitchen sink, sink, or bathtub.
• Then wet a scouring pad and spray everything with the vinegar solution before letting the stuff sit for 30-45 minutes.
• Then start scrubbing and then rinse the part with warm water so that the residue can dissolve more quickly.
• You should also clean the inside of the washing machine for the detergent drawer by using a microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution to wipe down.
• If there is stubborn dirt, a trick is to use an electric toothbrush with an old attachment. Don't forget to treat any rubber seals and moldy hinges or edges with it.
• The next step is to use baking soda to combat bad odors. The stuff also has a disinfectant effect and fights bacteria that have settled indoors.
• First add a tablespoon of baking soda to the individual compartments of the drawer and spray everything again with the vinegar solution.
• Then let the baking soda foam up, pour some water and push the drawer back in. The home remedy begins to trickle down the pipe to clean hard-to-reach areas and neutralize any odors.
• Again, remove the drawer and finally let everything dry before reinserting the components.

Also read:Clean a yellowed toilet seat: With these home remedies you can get it sparkling clean!

What other hacks can you use to clean a detergent drawer?

The method described above is effective against mold growth because vinegar eliminates 80% of mold and also prevents its return. The subsequent trick with baking soda also helps maintain hygiene in the household appliance. For this purpose, you should treat the washing machine drawer with it at least once a month, and more often if used intensively. However, do not use acetic acid too frequently to prevent possible damage. Otherwise, you can also try the following tricks:

• Hydrogen peroxide is another effective remedy. The oxygen-enriched water not only removes the deposits, but also brightens the surfaces and protects the coating of the plastic parts.
• To do this, combine about 50 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and a little grated laundry soap in a plastic bottle. Then mix the ingredients well by shaking the bottle vigorously and remove the drawer from the washing machine to the kitchen sink/sink/bathtub.
• Now scrub all areas of the piece diligently with the homemade foamy cleaner and an old toothbrush. Then let the stuff sit for 30 minutes.
• Afterwards, rinse everything thoroughly with warm water and allow it to dry before pushing the component back into place.
• According to another life hack, you can clean the detergent compartment by putting it in the dishwasher.
• The dishwasher tabs work easily on plastic dishes, which is why they should also be able to clean such components without any problems.
• Although they are chemical-based cleaning products, they are specifically designed for household appliances and are gentle on their surfaces. However, set the dishwasher to a higher temperature so that the dishwasher tabs can effectively eliminate any germs and mold. If necessary, you can then repeat any of the above methods.
• All of these methods and tricks work even if you use top loaders to clean the detergent compartment.

Also read:Washing stuffed animals: Tips on how to keep stuffed animals germ-free and clean!

More tips for maintaining the hygiene of a detergent container

The environment in the washing machine drawer is constantly humid and not only promotes the formation of mold, but is also susceptible to limescale deposits. Therefore, it is important to consider factors such as hard water to extend the life of your home appliance.

• Not only white wine vinegar, but also apple cider vinegar is a proven home remedy for cleaning such areas. This is thanks to its disinfecting and lime-dissolving properties and is ideal as a cleaner for components such as detergent compartments. In addition, you can also use apple cider vinegar to remove dirt buildup from the washing machine drum and the outside of the appliance. However, you should be careful with this indoors, as the acid can attack not only limescale deposits, but also rubber seals.
• You can also use citric acid as a proven household remedy using the same principle. When used in moderate doses, you can effectively clean the detergent compartment and descale hard-to-reach areas. To do this, run the washing machine with five to ten tablespoons of it at a maximum of 40 degrees. This would also leave a lemony scent.
• As far as baking powder or baking soda is concerned, you can also run the washing machine with 50 grams of it at 60 degrees. This prevents unpleasant odors, mold and limestone. You can also use the stuff as an antibacterial agent in the laundry load by using two tablespoons of it.
• Lastly, avoid using too much detergent or dishwashing liquid in the compartment to prevent buildup and damage.

All in all, these measures would optimize the performance of your washing machine and keep contamination in the detergent dispenser to a minimum.

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